WHAT'S AT "TEA TIME"?

Scones are baked pastries or sweet breads that often have a round shapes. Scones are normally plain or with raisins, although they can have any topping. British people traditionally enjoy scones with clotted cream and jam, (usually strawberry) as part of their afternoon tea. Scones are usually served with tea and in coffeehouses.

History:

Scones became popular and an essential part of the fashionable ritual of taking tea in England when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford (1788 – 1861), one late afternoon, ordered the servants to bring tea and some sweet breads, which included scones. She was so delighted by this, that she ordered it every afternoon and what now has become an English tradition is the “Afternoon Tea Time” (precisely at 4:00 p.m.). They are still served daily with the traditional clotted cream topping in Britain.

Scones with jam & clotted cream

Method

Heat the oven to 200ºC.

First, put the flour into a large bowl with the pinch of salt and the baking powder and mix. Add the butter and rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the caster sugar.

Then, put the milk into a jug and heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

After that, pour the milk into the previous mixture and combine it quickly.

Next, sprinkle some flour onto the work surface and put the dough there. Knead the dough and cut it into 8 parts. With the parts make balls and flatten them to make the scones.

Finally, brush the tops with a beaten egg and carefully arrange on the baking tray.

Bake the scones for 10 minutes until risen and golden on the top.

Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream.